Club

Ned Grabavoy

Ned Grabavoy

Midfielder

20

Real Name:
Ned Grabavoy

HT:5' 7"WT:150

Age:
33 (07/01/1983)

Birthplace:
Joliet, IL

Hometown:
New Lenox, IL

Capable of playing any of the four spots in RSL’s midfield diamond, the versatile Grabavoy had the best season of his career in 2013. The veteran midfielder recorded the most games played, games started, minutes played, goals scored and assists of his career. Grabavoy played in 32 games – 29 of which were starts – and recorded five goals and five assists in the regular season and played in four of RSL’s postseason games.

A very technical player, Grabavoy will continue to play an important role for RSL in the 2014 season, where the Claret-and-Cobalt will rely on his dynamic attacking play, solid defensive work and his veteran leadership in the locker room.

Acquired

RSL: Selected by Real Salt Lake in the 2009 MLS Wavier Draft on March 3, 2009

SJ: Selected by San Jose in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft on Nov. 21, 2007

CLB: Acquired via trade by The Crew along with Joseph Ngwenya on May 12, 2006 in exchange for Kyle Martino and John Wolyniec

LA: Selected in the second round (14th overall) of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 16, 2004

Professional Career

2013: Recorded career-highs in games played (32), games started (29), minutes played (2,688), goals scored (5) and assists (5) … Finished in the top-five for RSL with five goals (tied for fourth) and five assists (fourth) ... Registered an assist in RSL’s 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC on March 30 … Notched a brace in a 4-1 rout of Chivas USA on May 19 … Provided an assist in a 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire on May 25 … Scored in RSL’s 3-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes on June 1 … Scored in RSL’s historic 3-0 win over FC Dallas on July 13 … Scored in a 2-2 draw with Colorado Rapids on Aug. 3 … Registered an assist in a 4-2 loss to LA Galaxy on Aug. 17 … Provided an assist in RSL’s 4-0 win over Columbus Crew on Aug. 24 … Notched an assist in a 4-2 win over Portland Timbers on Aug. 30 … Provided an assist in RSL’s 3-0 win over Carolina RailHawks in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup … Played in four postseason games, three of which were starts … Played the full 90 minutes in the MLS Cup Final

2012: His 26 appearances, 22 starts, 1,946 minutes played and three assists were the most of his four-year RSL career and second-most of his MLS career behind his 2007 season in Columbus … Despite battling injuries all year long, his 22 MLS starts were the third-most for a RSL midfielder during the 2012 campaign … Registered an assist in back-to-back games, first in RSL’s 3-2 win over Dallas on May 26 and then in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s June 16 3-0 win at Chivas USA … Made his 175th career MLS regular season appearance on June 20 against the L.A. Galaxy at Rio Tinto Stadium … Appeared in all four of RSL’s CONCACAF Champions League matches … Played all 180 minutes of Real Salt Lake’s Western Conference Semifinal series loss to Seattle Sounders FC

2011: His 25 appearances; 21 starts and 1,899 minutes were all the second-most of his eight-year MLS career (previous high marks came as a member of Columbus in 2007) … Despite suffering from nagging injuries during the latter half of the season, his 21 league starts were the third most for an RSL midfielder during the squad’s roller-coaster campaign … Appeared in all six of RSL’s contests in the Championship Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League (289 mins.), starting three games, including both legs of the Finals against Monterrey … Made his 150th regular season appearance on 6/18 v. DC … Suffered left hamstring strain on 7/30 v CLB, forcing him out action for five weeks … Returned with 17-minute stint off the bench on 9/03 v. PHI … Re-aggravated the injury in 75-minute performance on 10/06 at Vancouver, knocking him out of final two regular season affairs … Was able to return to line-up in a substitute role in all three of RSL’s 2011 MLS Cup Playoff contests, totaling 63 minutes … Only goal of the season on 10/29 v. SEA was also one of RSL’s most important, his 88th minute tally in Leg One of the Western Conf. Semifinals giving RSL a 3-0 win and proving to stand as the eventual series-winner.

2010: Played 2,035 minutes across 32 League and Cup appearances (22 starts), notching three goals and three assists … Scored all three goals in regular season play, tying a career-high (2007 w/ CLB) and T-5thon the squad … One of just three players to appear in all six CONCACAF Champions League Group A contests (w/ Findley & Johnson), coming off the bench in five of the matches … Suffered a R MCL sprain on 04/10 v SEA that sidelined him for a month … Injury has forced him to miss four League contests, a number that would surely be higher were it not for revolutionary PRP therapy, which replaces plasma from patient’s own blood to area of injury, accelerating recovery time … Finished off the scoring on 5/29 v. KC, his first goal in an RSL uniform (92+’) resulting in the final 4-1 scoreline and snapping a 61-game goalless streak in MLS play (for CLB on 6/23/07 v. LA) … Scored just minutes after coming off the bench on 7/24 v. CHV, his 66’ tally opening the scoring in a 1-1 draw on Pioneer Day … The first-time, left-footed volley from 25 yards out was easily voted the MLS Goal of the Week for Week 17 … Notched first assist of season and broke 18-game snap without a helper in MLS play a week later on 7/31 v. DC, helping on Alvaro Saborio’s 13th minute GWG to start the scoring in the 3-0 triumph … Notched assist off the bench in CCL play on 9/15 v. TOR, helping Paulo Jr. score in his RSL debut (80’), which closed the scoring in a 4-1 victory (92+’) … Made only CCL start on 9/22 @ Árabe Unido, notching another assist on Will Johnson’s GWG (43’) and going the distance in helping RSL capture a crucial 3-2 away win … Started both Western Conference Semifinal Series contests vs. FC Dallas, going the distance on 10/30 @ DAL in the opener and playing 73 minutes in Leg Two on 11/06 in Sandy.

2009: Lone player selected in MLS’ 2009 preseason Waiver Draft on 3/03 … Made RSL’s squad out of preseason camp and then valuable contributions after doing so, seeing action in 20 regular season contests and playing key roles in RSL’s triumphs in the Eastern Conference Championship and MLS Cup 2009 … Made RSL debut with 15-minute substitute appearance on 4/02 v. CLB, helping RSL to close out its 4-1 win over one of his former squads … After appearing off the bench in 6 of RSL’s first 9 games, started in 7 of next 9 contests between 5/23 @ DC through 7/24 v. DAL … Missed 9/12 v. CHI contest due to a red card issued on 8/29 @ KC – his first-ever ejection coming in his 112th MLS contest … Played the most productive minute in RSL history in the Eastern Conf. Championship on 11/14 @ CHI, entering the 0-0 draw in stoppage time of 2nd OT (123+’), making him eligible to convert the spot kick (7th Rd.) that clinched RSL’s 5-4 win in penalties and a spot in the League’s title tilt … Had more time to impact the game in MLS Cup 2009 on 11/22 v. LA at Seattle’s Qwest Field, entering at the half for a depleted Will Johnson and playing a game-changing 75 minutes, helping RSL come from behind to force a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation and added extra time … Stepped up to the challenge in penalties for a second straight weekend, slamming home his fourth round attempt in RSL’s eventual 5-4, seven-round PK victory … The triumph made Grabavoy one of only two RSL players to capture a second MLS Cup title (w/ Rimando), his first coming with LA in 2005.

2008: Was selected by the expansion Earthquakes in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft … Started 21 of 24 games for San Jose, recording four assists to tie for second on the team in that category … Played 85 minutes in ‘Quakes debut on 4/03 @ LA, pairing with Ramiro Corrales in central midfield … Notched first assist of year on 4/19 @ COL, setting up Kei Kamara’s goal … Entered as a sub in U.S. Open Cup play on 4/30 @ RSL, playing 27 minutes in a 0-4 defeat … Assisted Ryan Johnson’s 89th minute goal on 5/10 v. CLB … Started at forward on 5/17 @ NE … Recorded assist on Kamara’s goal on 5/22 v. HOU … Set career-season high of four assists on 5/31 @ RSL … Went the full 90 minutes and scored a goal on 7/15 v. Honduras Olympic Team … Missed six weeks of action across July and August due to sports hernia surgery, returning to the field on 8/23 @ CHV … Registered one assist in three games for the SJ Reserves.

2007: Notched career highs in games played (26), starts (24), goals (3) and assists (3) in his only full season with Columbus … Started and played 90 minutes in CLB’s first three games of the season … Scored Crew’s first goal of the year on 4/19 v. NE in a 2-2 tie … Scored second goal of the season on 5/12 v. CHV in a 1-1 tie … Notched two assists in 3-3 tie on 6/16 @ NE, marking his first career multi-assist effort … Scored third goal of season against his former team on 6/23 @ LA.

2006: Appeared in 17 games between Los Angeles (7 GP/2 GS, 0G/0A) and Columbus (10 GP/3 GS, 1G/1A) … Part of a trade on 5/12 that sent he and Joseph Ngwenya from the Galaxy to The Crew in exchange for Kyle Martino and John Wolyniec … Made a memorable Crew debut in front of his new home fans by scoring the GWG on 5/13 v. COL … Notched lone assist of the season on 10/07 @ CHI … Also made six appearances (all starts) in MLS Reserve Division play between LA and CLB, registering one assist.

2005: Appeared in 12 games for the Galaxy’s first team during its MLS Cup-winning campaign, nine of them starts, while registering three assists … Was a key contributor during the MLS Cup Playoffs, starting all four postseason affairs for LA and scoring once … His 67’ goal on 10/29 @ SJ in Game 2 of the Western Conf. Semifinal Series essentially dashed the ‘Quakes hopes of advancement, securing a 1-1 draw for the second leg and ending the scoring in a 4-2 overall series result that moved the Galaxy into the Western Conference Final … Started and played 66 min. on 11/13 v. NE in MLS Cup 2005, an eventual 1-0 overtime triumph … Logged time in six Galaxy Reserves games, scoring one goal and dishing out three assists.

2004: Started 11 of his 15 appearances for the Galaxy during his rookie season, notching a goal and three assists … Selected by the Galaxy in the second round (14th overall) of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft in Charlotte on 1/16/04 … Started and went the full 90 minutes in his MLS debut on 4/24 v. CLB in a 2-0 win … Earned his first career point and assist on 5/22 @ SJ … His two other assists were game winners: in stoppage time on 6/12 v. CHI (3-2 W) and on 7/04 v. SJ (2-1 W) … Scored his lone goal of the season on a free kick on 7/10 v. COL.

International Career

U.S Youth National Teams: Represented U.S. Soccer at virtually every youth national team level … U.S. Under 20’s: Played in four matches, starting three, for the U.S. U-20 National Team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship … Appeared in four matches against international competition with the U-20s … U.S. Under 18’s: Was the leading scorer on the U-18s in 2001 with seven goals … U.S. Under 14’s: A member of the first class of players in U.S. Soccer’s U-14 Boys national team program.

College

Finished his three-year career at Indiana with 18 goals and 21 assists in 54 appearances (42 starts) … Co-captained the Hoosiers to the 2003 NCAA College Cup crown at Crew Stadium … Twice named an All-American by NSCAA/adidas … A two-time All-Big Ten First-Team selection … A member of the 2003 College Cup All-Tournament Team as a junior, the same year he was also named a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist … Gave up his final year of eligibility at Indiana to sign with the MLS Project-40 program in 2004.

High School/Club

Named the 2000 Gatorade and NSCAA/adidas National High School Player of the Year during his senior season at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox, IL … Led Lincoln-Way Central to two-straight Illinois state championship games … Played his club ball for the highly-regarded Chicago Magic youth soccer program based out of Frankfort, IL.

Personal

Father of twins born in January 2013 … Married wife Monica in December of 2008 … Son of Ned and Lynn Grabavoy … Has two sisters, Natalie and Tiffany, and one brother, Nick … Enjoys music, sports and hanging out with friends … Plays the guitar and hits the golf course in his spare time